City's Jail Plans Spur Protest March This Weekend

CHINATOWN, NY — A group of organizations against the de Blasio administration's plan to close Rikers Island and build four new jails will march this weekend — including some that have previously organized against plans to get rid of specialized testing at elite New York City high schools.

Opponents of the sweeping jail plan will rally starting at Columbus Park, at Baxter and Mulberry streets, Oct. 6 at noon — nearby the Manhattan Detention Complex, which the city plans to tear down and rebuild a larger jail.

The groups will protest against the plan — which calls for closing facilities on Rikers and building for new jails in the boroughs to reduce the overall jail population to about 4,000 — with eyes set on Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and local politicians for each district where a new jail will rise, Councilmembers Margaret Chin, Stephen Levin, Karen Koslowitz, and Diana Ayala.

"The Mayor’s $11 billion plan for 4 skyscraper jails, sited for Chinatown, Kew Gardens, Boerum Hill and Mott Haven is ill-conceived, dangerous and does not address the root causes of the inhumane conditions and abuses that are prevalent across ALL New York City jails, not only Rikers," said a release about the march from Boroughs United, another group that has been advocating against the project.

City officials have said the new system of borough-based jails is a part of reducing the jail population to about 4,000 — down from 9,400 in 2017 — and to make it easier for those incarcerated to attend court hearings near the court buildings and for visits from friends and family.

The organizers are local activist and state committeeman for a Lower Manhattan assembly district Chris Marte, a district leader in Bensonhurst and Gravesend Nancy Tong, the president of the Hotel Chinese Association Steven Wong, the president of the American Chinese Commerce Association John Chan, and the leaders of two groups who have been fighting against a plan to diversify specialized schools by scrapping specialized testing, New York City Residents Alliance's Donghui Zang CACAGNY's Wai Wah Chin.

Organizers criticize the jails' heights, which are still being finalized, and say there is no guarantee Rikers will close — a timeline issue that city officials acknowledged at a recent hearing.

They also say construction at each site would negatively impact those living nearby, particularly children and seniors, like those living next door the Chinatown facility.

"No private developer would be allowed to submit a flawed, inaccurate, deficient plan," the protesters say. "We are rallying to save our seniors. To save our children. To invest in education and housing. To invest in real criminal justice reforms. NOT in jails."